Hardy’s Farm Shop and café has supported the Children’s Bereavement Centre’s Big Give Christmas campaign by donating £1,200 to the pledge fund ahead of Big Give week

A Newark-area farm shop has helped make life a little more bear-able for grieving families thanks to a generous donation.

Hardy’s Farm Shop and café have supported the Children’s Bereavement Centre’s Big Give Christmas campaign by donating £1,200 to the pledge fund, which means that the charity hit their £1,500 pledge target.

Next week is also Big Give week (December 3 to 10), which means that for every £5 donated by the public, £5 will be taken from Big Give’s pledge pot and the charity will receive double the donation.

The Children’s Bereavement Centre supports children, young people, and their families who are suffering life changing trauma due to the death or terminal illness of a loved one, and in 2023, 1,300 local children benefited from bereavement support from the charity.

The donation could pay for hundreds of comfort bears, which are given to primary school aged children accessing 1:1 bereavement counselling to help them talk about their feelings and emotions.

A bear can ease stress, build confidence, soothe tears, and can help a child handle fear, anxiety and the unknown. It is an important part of the range of support provided by the centre to help children cope with their grief.

A child who has used one of these bears said that their ‘Hug Me’ bear has helped with their “worries and sadness”:

“He helps me by being next to me and always being there to hug me. He is part of my worry squad, the main part, and has been part of the healing process because he has helped me when I’m going to bed when I get worried and stuff like that.

“Please trust that the bear can help you. In my case I wasn’t getting to sleep that well but when I got Hug Me, he helped me loads.”

You can make a donation at https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a056900002TPX8mAAH?c=99401

Katie Gibson from the CBC said: “This is such a generous pledge from Hardy’s, they helped reach our pledge campaign target. This pledge pot will be used to match fund donations made to the charity on Big Give week.

“£10 could cover the cost of a comfort bear and will support the charity’s Christmas Fund a Bear Appeal, helping bring relief to a child at one of the most devastating times in their life.

“Christmas, a traditional family time, can be very emotional and difficult for so many of the children and families we support. If you are thinking of making a festive donation this year, please visit our website during the Big Give week and help bring hope to grieving children this Christmas.”